One of the highlights of the golfing calendar is this week at the US Open, live on Sky Sports, but who will end up enjoying major success at Pinehurst No 2?
Wyndham Clark returns as reigning champion after his one-stroke victory over Rory McIlroy last year, while world number 1 Scottie Scheffler is the pre-tournament favorite after his dominant start to the season on the Tour. the PGA.
Scheffler earned a one-shot victory at the Memorial Tournament over Collin Morikawa, who can go three-quarters of the way to a career Grand Slam with victory in North Carolina, with Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka among the LIV Golf contingent looking to impress.
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Paul McGinley sings the praises of Scottie Scheffler after his victory at the Memorial, his fifth victory of the PGA Tour season.
The last five US Opens have produced first major champions, but will this streak continue? We asked the Sky Sports Golf team to take a look at some players who could impress…
Will Morikawa be able to catch Scheffler?
Morikawa has finished in the top four in his last six starts, including both majors this year, although he remains winless this season after Scheffler edged him at Muirfield Village on Sunday to claim a fifth victory in the campaign on the PGA Tour.
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Highlights from the final day of the Memorial Tournament, where Scottie Scheffler held on to earn a one-shot victory.
Scheffler also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players, Masters and RBC Heritage in 2024, with Sky Sports’ Nick Dougherty backing the American pair to impress again.
“While I think Morikawa will have a great chance at Pinehurst No. 2 because it’s all about controlling your iron play and making sure you hit those tiny greens that want to push the ball in every direction, the man who is better than Morikawa in this regard currently is Scheffler.
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Scottie Scheffler insisted his performance at the Memorial wasn’t his best, but it was still enough to secure him the victory.
“I know he’s the favorite and he’s the guy everyone is going to pick, but there’s a reason for that and it’s because he’s the best by a mile in the country. He puts it in good places from the start and from there he can use his strongest asset at the moment, which is his iron game.
“If you find the targets around Pinehurst and make a few putts, which he will do later, then I don’t think anyone will be able to hang with him.”
US Open golf live
Thursday June 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley also expects Morikawa to challenge, saying: “He is in rich form and pushed Scheffler all the way at the Memorial.
“I think he’s going to carry that form on a golf course that should suit him. He’s a really good ball shredder, which is going to be really important.”
Can Collin Morikawa stop Scottie Scheffler from greater success this week?
Who else could impress?
Rich Beem: “Shane Lowry‘s ball striking has really blossomed this year and his short game is still one of the best on the planet. He may have a really bad finish at the Memorial tournament, but I think he has a great chance to win a second major championship. »
David Howell: “Ludvig Aberg is sensational from tee to green and is going to win majors, so why not go ahead and win one at an iconic venue like Pinehurst No 2? The Swede could well be the man of the week.”
Ludvig Åberg competes in his US Open this week, after only turning professional last summer
Wayne “Radar” Riley: “I like That of Brian Harman chances this week. He hits straight, he’s a good iron player, he’s a good chipper and a wonderful putter. It’s all you need to be here – you definitely don’t need to be long. He won big at the Open and could do it again here!”
Robert Lee: “At one point, Rory McIlroyis going to do his major duck again this week. Everyone is hyped for The Masters because of what it means, but why can’t it happen here? He’s not miles away.
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Rory McIlroy says he is closer than ever to winning a fifth major tournament and suggests he plans to be at the top of the sport for at least 10 more years.
“I also think Xander Schauffele has reached the point now where he is going to make his level of consistency pay, in terms of victories. What he’s missing is crossing the finish line and I think Schauffele has a great chance.”
Jamie Spence: “Matt Fitzpatrick He’s the type of player who would do well here. He finished fifth at the Memorial Tournament, 17th at last year’s US Open as defending champion and fifth on The Players rankings earlier this year.
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Highlights from the final round of the 2022 US Open in Brookline, where Matt Fitzpatrick scored a one-stroke victory.
“He hasn’t been in top form this year, but he showed enough for me on a golf course that should suit him. He’s generally a very straight driver, he thinks very well and is the one of the best putters when he starts. He’s got enough invention in him that I think he’s a real runner as an underdog.”
Have your say! Who will win the US Open?
Sky Sports continues to host the US Open, with over 45 hours of live coverage from the four tournament days from June 13-16 and numerous additional tournament programs throughout the week.
Coverage of the first two rounds begins at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with the action beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on the final day.
Who will win the third major men’s tournament of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins Thursday from 12:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the US Open and more with NOW.
